Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
143. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure that asylum seekers who have not been provided with accommodation are protected from attack by far right and racist people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9510/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to those seeking International Protection (IP) in Ireland, and deplores any acts of intimidation towards IP applicants.
The Department also encourages those with information on any suspected criminal activity to report this to the appropriate authorities to be investigated.
An Garda Síochána, which comes under the remit of the Department of Justice, is responsible for policing matters, and matters pertaining to assault and hate crime.
Despite intensive efforts to source emergency accommodation, the Department is currently providing contingency material reception conditions in the form of an expense allowance of €113.80 per week to some IP applicants due to the severe shortage of accommodation. This is an increase of €75 per week from the standard expenses allowance of €38.80 for IP applicants in accommodation.
In addition to this increase in the increased expense allowance, a system of triage of adult males is being implemented to ensure that those who are most vulnerable are prioritised for the provision of accommodation.
Drop-in day services are provided to all non-accommodated persons who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IP applicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week.
Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. The Department is presently utilising a wide range of accommodation options to provide shelter to record numbers of IP applicants, over 200 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.
